Buck makes debut a memorable one

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, April 3, 2007

2007-04-03 04:00:00 PDT Seattle -- Monday was extra special for Travis Buck, who was making his major-league debut on Opening Day and in his home state, no less.

By the end of the day, Buck had done something many of his A's teammates didn't -- he had some success against tough Seattle starter Felix Hernandez, a double to center over Ichiro Suzuki in the sixth inning for his first major-league hit.

"It was a fastball he left a little over the plate," Buck said. "I put a good swing on it and I was fortunate enough it went over Ichiro's head. I was so surprised he didn't get it.

"What did we get, four hits? Knowing I got one of them is pretty special. Obviously, it's something I'll never forget."

Buck is from Richland, which is 21/2 hours southeast of Seattle, so he had a sizable contingent on hand. He'd scraped together 20 tickets from teammates' allotments and estimated that as many as 100 friends and family would be on hand.

Photo: Ted S. Warren

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Oakland Athletics right fielder Travis Buck chases down a fly hit by Seattle Mariners' Yuniesky Betancourt for an out Monday, April 2, 2007, on MLB baseball opening day at Safeco Field in Seattle. The Mariners beat the A's 4-0. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) less

Oakland Athletics right fielder Travis Buck chases down a fly hit by Seattle Mariners' Yuniesky Betancourt for an out Monday, April 2, 2007, on MLB baseball opening day at Safeco Field in Seattle. The Mariners ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren

Buck makes debut a memorable one

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

"You'll probably be able to hear my mom," Buck said.

Buck's mother, Vickie Bricker, did, indeed, make her presence known with a hearty cheer when Buck was introduced on the field with the rest of the lineup.

"I'm so excited," she said before the game. "Travis has worked so hard, he's been so dedicated. Since he was a baby, he's been driven and now his dream is fulfilled. This is important to him. He wants to make everyone proud."

A setback for Loaiza?: Esteban Loaiza, who has had recurring tightness behind his right shoulder, said he did not throw a planned bullpen session and will not make his scheduled rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday. Instead, he got an MRI exam and he's returning to Oakland this morning for further tests.

It's unclear what's happening. Loaiza said the area behind his right shoulder was all right but that his right trapezius, which had bothered him earlier in the spring, was tight again.

Loaiza missed a month with tightness in his left trapezius last year and, he said, "I think this one is worse."

Briefly: Bobby Kielty will be in the lineup tonight against left-hander Jarrod Washburn. Buck is likely to get the night off, although manager Bob Geren said that is not 100 percent decided. ... Buck is now wearing No. 6, rather than the 67 he sported during spring training. Left-hander Lenny DiNardo switched from No. 73 to 56. ... Geren said his family surprised him by flying to Seattle for Opening Day. ... The A's went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.